Child Support Lawyer in Raleigh, NC

Caring Counsel for Your Family Law Matter

Divorceor separation can be complicated, especially when children are involved.
One of the most contentious topics for divorcing couples to iron out is
the determination of child support payments. If you are facing child support
matters and need legal counsel, be sure to contact the to Hopper, Hopper
& Mulligan, PLLC for guidance. With more than 30 years of successful
legal experience and a BV® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, we are
equipped with the skills and passion necessary to help you get through
this difficult time and advocate for a fair resolution for your child
support arrangement.

How Child Support is Calculated

Child support is designed to provide the custodial parent with assistance
in paying for the child's everyday needs. Most often, child support arrangements
involve the non-custodial parent paying monthly cash installments to the
custdodial parent. Determining this amount can be done outside of court
with collaboration between the two parents, though tensions from divorce
can sometimes make this difficult. If a couple is unable to come to a
mutually acceptable agreement, court involvement is required.

North Carolina has specific child support guidelines that determine the
amount of child support that will be required from the other parent. This
can be a complex process, and is not always exact. A chart is used to
show how much money is usually spent on children per various combined
income levels.

The main factor is that a court will seek to ensure that a child and their
custodial parent can maintain the minimum standard of living for their
area. This involves examining the child's unique situation and any special
needs they may have, as well as any unusual but necessary expenses. Once
a court makes a decision, this order is enforceable by law and will in
most cases last until the child reaches the age of eighteen. If a considerable
change in circumstances should arise, a modification to this order can
be requested, though this is done at the discretion of the courts on a
case-by-case basis.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.